AutoGyro Calidus
{{Short description|German autogyro}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2022}}
| {{Infobox aircraft begin
| name=Calidus | image=File:Autogyro Calidus in flight (frame).jpg | caption= }}{{Infobox aircraft type | type=Autogyro | national origin=Germany | manufacturer=AutoGyro GmbH | designer= | first flight= | introduced=2009 | retired= | status=In production | primary user= | more users= | produced= | number built= | developed from= | variants with their own articles=RotorSport UK Calidus }} |
The AutoGyro Calidus is a German autogyro, designed and produced by AutoGyro GmbH of Hildesheim. The aircraft is supplied as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft.Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 176. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
The Calidus was approved in the United Kingdom in 2010 in a modified form as the RotorSport UK Calidus.{{cite web | url= http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/1419/20111103GyroTADSBG04Iss04RotorSportUKCalidus.pdf | publisher= United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority |work= Gyroplane Type Approval Data Sheet (TADS) | title= Type: RotorSport UK Calidus | accessdate= 29 December 2012 }}
Design and development
The Calidus features a single main rotor, a two-seats in tandem enclosed cockpit with a complete aerodynamic cockpit fairing, tricycle landing gear with wheel pants and a four-cylinder, air and liquid-cooled, four-stroke, dual-ignition {{convert|100|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Rotax 912 engine or turbocharged {{convert|115|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Rotax 914 engine in pusher configuration.
The aircraft fuselage is made from composites and is a faired teardrop shape to ensure smooth airflow over the variable pitch pusher propeller. Its {{convert|8.4|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} diameter rotor has a chord of {{convert|20|cm|in|1|abbr=on}}. The aircraft has an empty weight of {{convert|265|kg|lb|abbr=on}} and a gross weight of {{convert|450|kg|lb|abbr=on}}, giving a useful load of {{convert|185|kg|lb|abbr=on}}. The design incorporates vibration dampers that greatly reduce the level of main rotor vibration transmitted to the cockpit.
The design is noted for both its cruise speed of {{convert|160|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} and range of {{convert|800|km|mi|abbr=on}}. It was developed into the side-by-side configuration AutoGyro Cavalon.
Operational history
By December 2012 eight examples had been registered in the United States with the Federal Aviation Administration. Most are in the Experimental - Amateur-built or Experimental - Exhibition categories. Also by December 2012 three examples had been registered with Transport Canada in the Special Certificate of Airworthiness Limited category.{{cite web|url = http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/AcftRef_Results.aspx?Mfrtxt=&Modeltxt=CALIDUS&PageNo=1|title = Make / Model Inquiry Results|accessdate = 29 December 2012|last = Federal Aviation Administration|date = 29 December 2012}}{{cite web|url=http://wwwapps2.tc.gc.ca/Saf-Sec-Sur/2/ccarcs/aspscripts/en/quicksearch.asp |title=Canadian Civil Aircraft Register |accessdate=29 December 2012 |last=Transport Canada |date=29 December 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718042755/http://wwwapps2.tc.gc.ca/Saf-Sec-Sur/2/ccarcs/aspscripts/en/quicksearch.asp |archivedate=18 July 2011 }}
Variants
;AutoGyro Calidus
:Base model for the European and North American market.
:Modified model for the United Kingdom market, imported assembled and modified by RotorSport UK.
Specifications (Calidus)
File:Startvorbereitung in Erbil.jpg
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=Bayerl and the manufacturer"[http://www.autogyrousa.com/pdf/FlightManual_Calidus_2-0_ENG.pdf Flight and Operation Manual for Gyroplane Calidus]" page 1-4. AutoGyro GmbH 2011. Accessed: December 2013.
|prime units?=met
|genhide=
|crew=one
|capacity=one passenger
|length m= 4.78
|length ft=
|length in=
|length note=
|width m= 1.73
|width ft=
|width in=
|width note=
|height m= 2.74
|height ft=
|height in=
|height note=
|airfoil=NACA 8-H-12
|empty weight kg=265
|empty weight lb=
|empty weight note=
|gross weight kg=450
|gross weight lb=
|gross weight note=
|fuel capacity={{convert|86|L}}
|more general=
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=Rotax 912ULS
|eng1 type=four cylinder, liquid and air-cooled, four stroke aircraft engine
|eng1 kw=75
|eng1 hp=
|prop blade number=3
|prop name=variable pitch composite
|prop dia m=1.72
|prop dia ft=
|prop dia in=
|prop dia note=
|rot number=1
|rot dia m=8.4
|rot dia ft=
|rot dia in=
|rot area sqm=55.4
|rot area sqft=
|rot area note=
|perfhide=
|max speed kmh=185
|max speed mph=
|max speed kts=
|max speed note=
|cruise speed kmh=160
|cruise speed mph=
|cruise speed kts=
|cruise speed note=
|never exceed speed kmh=185
|never exceed speed mph=
|never exceed speed kts=
|never exceed speed note=
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|range nmi=
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|ceiling m=
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|g limits=
|roll rate=
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|climb rate ms=5
|climb rate ftmin=
|climb rate note=
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|disk loading kg/m2=8.1
|disk loading lb/sqft=
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See also
- Niki Lightning - autogyro
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|AutoGyro Calidus}}
- {{Official website|https://www.auto-gyro.com/en/Gyroplane/AutoGyro-Models/Calidus/}}
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtMZ8WxT-HI Video flight report] on AVweb
{{AutoGyro GmbH aircraft}}
Category:2000s German sport aircraft
Category:Single-engined pusher autogyros